Chapter 18: Miracle is out – and the first reviews are in
Huge thanks to Catherine Robertson, Good Books NZ, The Little Book Shop, Cloud Ink Press, and everyone who celebrated the launch of Miracle with me in Wellington and Auckland. I’m incredibly grateful for all the support.
Wellington launch – Thursday, 22 September
At approximately 9.07pm Wellington was struck by an earthquake. Just as Australia’s biggest-ever quake destroyed Miracle’s hometown of Boorunga, this one could have decimated our city. Or worse, sent copies of Miracle crashing to the floor of Good Books, burying all my wonderful guests (sorry Jo, Tash, Jacqui, Janis, Constance, Mark, Marion, Rachel and any others reading this).
Fortunately, our earthquake was only a magnitude 5.7, and since the launch was over by 7pm, its only effect was to make me question that second glass of pinot and my decision to wear heels.
An uncanny coincidence though, eh?
Three and a half hours before the ground shook, things were much calmer (my nerves aside). The fabulous Catherine Robertson welcomed Miracle into the world (just as she’d introduced All Our Secrets five years ago), even mentioning it in the same breath as Trent Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe! Dione Jones from Cloud Ink Press was up next, speaking, among other things, about what a “nightmare” it is to produce a book.
For my speech, I took on board a friend’s feedback on my previous launch (“your speech was too short”), showcasing some of the books that have had an impact on my life – everything from Dick Bruna’s Tilly and Tessa to Janet Frame’s Owls Do Cry.
It was a memorable evening. Many copies of Miracle were sold and signed, propelling it into the following week’s bestsellers list for New Zealand fiction. But most importantly, I loved celebrating with friends and family, including my brother Damien, who’d arrived from Sydney less than two hours before the launch kicked off.
Auckland launch – Saturday, 24 September
In contrast to the shaky, cold, wet night in Wellington, the setting for the Auckland launch was a calm, warm, sunny afternoon. The venue, a little book shop called, um, The Little Book Shop, is tucked away in a new precinct in Remuera, so guests needed a little help to find their way…
This time Cloud Ink’s Dione Jones introduced Miracle, before having to endure the same speech I delivered in Wellington. It was a more intimate gathering and a perfect opportunity to catch up with friends from Auckland and Northland (plus two surprise guests from Cambridge), and meet other Cloud Ink authors.
My daughter Tilly forgot it was her job to take photos, so here are a few from friends…
Reviews
Catherine Robertson on Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan, Radio NZ National (starts approx. 6 mins in)
Alyson Baker, Nelson libraries
Interview
Article
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Miracle is now available in New Zealand from good book shops and online via cloudink.co.nz. It will be available in Australia and elsewhere from Amazon very soon. I’ll keep you posted.
If you’ve read Miracle already, it would be great if you could write a quick review (two or three words would do) on Goodreads or Amazon. Thanks.
“Ingeniously plotted, compassionate and with the best combination of grit and quirkiness, Miracle is sure to become a fast favourite with a wide range of readers.” – Catherine Robertson